Scan barcode
A review by foxmeyer
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard
5.0
Probably the best example of science communication I have ever had the pleasure to read.
At its core, this is a book about one researcher's quest to unlock the secrets of a lifelong fascination with trees. It's the story of a discovery that many young, hip, green people today take fully for granted: that trees rely on fungal nets for communication and sustenance.
But that story could have been exceptionally bland if it were told by anyone else.
The book dedicated significant time and space to the nuances of mycology and forestry, which (for non-scientists) may be a bit tough to get through. But Simard has avoided a mistake that so many scientists today are still making: thinking that their personal lives and feelings must be segregated from their research. Simard is able to show us all the being and feeling human enhances your research, rather than taint it.
The story of her discovery unfolds alongside the story of her life, and it's obvious when major events or developments for her personally influence the direction of her research. That background - so often shunned in STEM - actually makes the tricky bits MUCH easier to follow, because you can totally understand how and why she's curious about what she's curious about. You feel so much more invested in what's going on in her head once you understand how many times she's had run-ins with bears, brutish foresters and remarkable tragedy. It just feels so... human?
This book is a masterpiece. It is a clear signal to the next generation of researchers that if they want to be taken seriously, if they don't want to be seen in an ivory tower, if they want people to actually understand the data they're collecting, then they need to be more personal with their work. Save the austerity of spreadsheets and posters for professional conferences. When you're engaging with the public, use Simard's example, and tell it from the heart.
Oh, and while we're at it, it's chock-full of new terms and ideas. If you don't know anything about trees or fungi or forestry, you most certainly will by the end of the first few chapters. You almost forget how much you're learning because of how compelling the story is. And, in truly human fashion, it ends with a glimmer of hope.
At its core, this is a book about one researcher's quest to unlock the secrets of a lifelong fascination with trees. It's the story of a discovery that many young, hip, green people today take fully for granted: that trees rely on fungal nets for communication and sustenance.
But that story could have been exceptionally bland if it were told by anyone else.
The book dedicated significant time and space to the nuances of mycology and forestry, which (for non-scientists) may be a bit tough to get through. But Simard has avoided a mistake that so many scientists today are still making: thinking that their personal lives and feelings must be segregated from their research. Simard is able to show us all the being and feeling human enhances your research, rather than taint it.
The story of her discovery unfolds alongside the story of her life, and it's obvious when major events or developments for her personally influence the direction of her research. That background - so often shunned in STEM - actually makes the tricky bits MUCH easier to follow, because you can totally understand how and why she's curious about what she's curious about. You feel so much more invested in what's going on in her head once you understand how many times she's had run-ins with bears, brutish foresters and remarkable tragedy. It just feels so... human?
This book is a masterpiece. It is a clear signal to the next generation of researchers that if they want to be taken seriously, if they don't want to be seen in an ivory tower, if they want people to actually understand the data they're collecting, then they need to be more personal with their work. Save the austerity of spreadsheets and posters for professional conferences. When you're engaging with the public, use Simard's example, and tell it from the heart.
Oh, and while we're at it, it's chock-full of new terms and ideas. If you don't know anything about trees or fungi or forestry, you most certainly will by the end of the first few chapters. You almost forget how much you're learning because of how compelling the story is. And, in truly human fashion, it ends with a glimmer of hope.